McCord is due back "soon" but Lonsdale and Nuttall could both be out for the season.

Matt Henry and Hamish Bennett are improving and both played club cricket at the weekend, but Stead said mid-February was still the aim for their return.

While the bowling stocks were ravaged by injury, there was no temptation to rush back Bennett or Henry, Stead said.

"We have to look at the long term and it's definitely not worth risking them."

Both are finding form in club cricket, though aren't bowling enough overs to be able to withstand the rigours of four-day cricket.

Bennett took 4-13 from eight overs for Riccarton on Saturday against Henry's Marist-Harewood side, while Henry replied with 2-10 from nine overs.

Stead is also still without the services of Black Caps Ronnie Hira and Rob Nicol.

Canterbury do welcome back captain Peter Fulton and have batting firepower in internationals Dean Brownlie, Tom Latham, Andrew Ellis and Todd Astle in the middle order, though they are also without wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Cachopa.

Cachopa has nursed a shoulder complaint most of the season and now needs rest.

Stead said he was unlikely to play the Wizards next four-day match, starting next Thursday in Wellington, either.

Latham will take the gloves.

Findlay is likely to play as a fourth seamer this week and is coming off a strong A tournament with the ball where he took seven wickets at 16.14.

It might be the worst game of the season to be light on bowlers for Canterbury.

The McLean Park deck is renowned for being a batsmen's paradise and, as well as first-class run-machines Jamie How and Mathew Sinclair to worry about, CD have one of the competition's form batsmen in Craig Cachopa.

But what makes this match the most anticipated of the season is the return of dumped Black Caps skipper Ross Taylor.